Watercraft



April 1950 J. GRUSZECKI 2,503,480

WATER CRAFT Filed Sept. 25, 1944 3 sheets-Sheet 1 I N VEN TOR.

50h w-u April 1950 J. GRUSZECKI 2,503,480

WATER CRAFT Filed Sept. 25; 1944 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 IN VEN TOR.

WWW

J. GRUSZECKI April 11, 1950 WATER CRAFT 3 SheetsSheet 3 Filed Sept. 25, 1944 4 11v VENTOR. J 07221 Graszecki D V Patented Apr. 11, 1950 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 6 Claims.

This invention relates to water craft and particularly to those of the type adapted to be manually propelled.

The Water craft or boat herein disclosed embodies a structure and arrangement of parts especially adaptable to the smaller sizes, such that propulsion thereof through the water may be accomplished without the use of paddles, oars, sails or other separate propelling instrumentalities by systematic rocking manual movement of the hull in the water.

An object of the invention is to provide a water craft having a hull structure such that rocking movement thereof produced by manual lateral rocking force of the occupant effects forward motion of the craft through the water.

It is an additional object of this invention to provide a water craft which may be propelled in a relatively straight path and a forward direction by rocking movement of the hull from side to side, as well as in a curved path in either direction by emphasizing the rocking motion to one side of the craft or the other.

Another object of this invention is to provide a water craft of the character described which includes a novel structural arrangement adapted to maintain straight forward motion of the craft.

A further object of the invention is to provide a water craft having a hull structure including angularly disposed panels effective to produce forward propelling force during rocking movement of the craft.

Other objects and advantages will be apparent from the following description when considered together with the accompanying drawings.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a water craft embodying a preferred form of the present invention;

Figs. 2, 3 and 4 are respectively, top, side and rear end views of the water craft shown in Fig. 1, with portions cut away in Figs. 2 and 3 to show certain details of the construction;

Figs. 5 and 6 are respectively, end and side diagrammatical views of the water craft shown in Figs. 11 and 12 are fragmentary sectional views with the sections taken substantially on lines ll--Il andl2---l2ofFig.3;

Fig. 13 is a diagrammatical top view of the craft illustrating a. feature of the operation.

Referring to the drawings, the illustrative embodiment of the invention comprises a hull or body portion having sides 22 and 23 and a bottom 24 shaped to form a water craft or boat having a bow 25 and a stern 26. A semi-cylindrical tunnel 21 open at its ends and longitudinally of the bottom extends lengthwise of the bottom of the craft from bow to stern, but the bottom of the water craft is recessed or cut away so that a portion of the bottom slopes upwardly as indicated at 3| in Figs. 1, 3, 6, 8 and 10, and therefore, the side walls of the tunnel are interrupted, and, in fact, the water craft may be considered as providing two successive tunnels in coaxial alignment. The tunnel 2! may have the longitudinal opening as shown in Fig. 4, or, if desired, it may be closed throughout its circumference. The sides 22 and 23 and the bottom 24 are rounded. laterally and curved longitudinally to provide a rounded lateral contour and a pointed bow. An occupants seat 28 is secured to the inner portion of the hull at or near the stern of the boat.

In order to accomplish forward motion of the boat responsive to lateral rocking movement produced by the occupant, laterally extending and vertically sloping panels 29 and 30 are formed in Fig. 1, which illustrate the operation of the craft;

the bottom and side portions of the hull 20; the panel 29 being intermediate the bow and stern of the boat, and the panel 30 being at the stem. The panel 29 desirably slopes forwardly from top to bottom and is curved to provide side Wing portions 32 and 33 adjoining the sides of the hull. The panel 29 and the associated side wing portions 32 and 33 are surfaces formed by cutting away the bottom of the water craft at 3| as heretofore mentioned. The panel 29 blends into the lines of the side wing portions 32 and 33. The curvature of the hull at 34 adjoining the panel 29 and extending rearwardly of the boat is such that the hull slopes to the rear and forms a gradually curved outer contour from the panel 23 to the stern of the boat. The slope of the panel 29 being forwardly from top to bottom, motion of one side of the boat downwardly, as indicated by the arrow 35 in Fig. 6, produces a component of force against the water, as indicated by the arrow 36 in Fig. 6, which tends to move the boat forwardly. Similar downward motion of the other side of the boat tends to produce a like reaction against the water on that side of the boat. The

rear or stem panel slopes rearwardly from top to bottom so that upward movement of one side of the boat, as indicated by the arrow 38 of Fig. 8, produces a, component of force against the water which is indicated by the arrow 39, also tendin to effect forward movement. Upward movement of the other side of the boat produces a like reaction against the other side of the rear panel 30. Pins 40 and 42, of identical size and shape but formed symmetrically, extend rearwardly at the sides of the panel 30 to stabilize the forward motion of the boat and confine the movement of the water to the sloping panels in a manner such that the reaction force of the water is in a direction producing a forward motion of the boat. That is, fins 40 and 42 limit sideward displacement of water by panel 30 and force movement of displaced water in a rearward direction, where it produces a forward reaction on the water craft. Side wall portions 43 and 44 of the tunnel 21 extend rearwardly from the front and rear panels 29 and 30 respectively, to confine the reaction force of the water to the panel during the rocking motion of the boat.

Rocking movement of the boat is effected by force applied to the sides, as indicated by the arrows 45 and 46 in Figs. 5 and '7. During this rocking movement, the reaction forces of the water against the panels 29 and 30 produce components of force on alternate sides of the panels to propel the boat forwardly. During the downward movement of one side of the boat, one side of the front panel has a force exerted thereon which tends to move the boat forwardly, as indicated by the arrow 41 in Fig. 13. At the same time, the up ward movement of the other side of the boat causes a force to be exerted on the rear panel, as indicated by the arrow 48. The area of the rear panel 30 being greater than the area of the front panel 29, the force exerted upon the rear panel is somewhat greater than that exerted upon the front panel. This unbalance of the forces tends to turn the boat in a direction indicated by the arrow 49 in Fig. 13. During the rocking movement of the boat in practically even strokes from side to side, the tendenc to turn is resisted by the force of the water exerted upon the inner side walls of the tunnel, as indicated by the arrows 50 and 52 in Fig. 9. These forces upon the inner side walls of the tunnel form a couple which, in the instance of the rocking movement in the one direction, as illustrated in Fig. 9, resists the tendency to turn in the direction indicated by the arrows 53 and 54. However, when it is desired, to turn the boat for steering purposes, the boat is continually rocked to one side or the other, depending upon the desired direction of turn, while only allowing return movement to substantially an upright position between the rocking movements to the one side. The continual rocking movement to one side overcomes the tendency of the reaction force of the water upon the side walls of the tunnel to keep the boat moving in a straight line and turns the boat in a desired direction.

In each forward propellin movement by one of the panels 29 or 30, the water that is displaced by the movement of the panel must move rearward because adjacent longitudinal walls prevent lateral displacement of the Water. Thus Fig. 11, showing in horizontal cross section the panel 30 on one side of the water craft, shows how the adjacent longitudinal walls 40 and 44 prevent the water from simply moving laterally off the panel 30. In like manner, Fig. 12, showing the panel 29 on one side of the water craft, indicates how that panel is flanked by two longitudinal wall projections 32 and 43. When the water craft is rocked by a force such as indicated by the arrow 45 in Fig. 5 or the opposite force indicated by the arrow 46 in Fig. 7, the portion of panel 29 on one side of the water craft moves downwardly while simultaneously the portion of panel 30 on the opposite side of the water craft moves upwardly, both panels displacing water rearwardly and causing the water craft to move forward by reaction. At the same time, the other portion or half of the panel 29 moves upwardly and the other portion or half of the panel 30 moves downwardly, but these other portions are so inclined with respect to the direction of relative movement that they, in effect, move away from the water rather than tend to displace water. It is apparent then that during rocking motion of the water craft in one direction, one portion of the panel 29 on one side of the water craft is effective while the other portion is not, and one portion of the panel 30 on the opposite side of the water craft is effective while the portion on the one side is not. The four panel portions mentioned above comprise the water exposed faces of the panels, the opposite faces of the panels being on the inside of the hull so that they do not come in contact with the Water.

It will be understood from the foregoing description that an occupant sitting in the seat 28 propels the boat forwardly by exerting forces such as 45 and 46 upon the sides of the boat to rock the hull laterally from side to side. Uniform rocking movement to the two sides of the boat effects progress in a practically straight line, while exaggerated force applied to one side or the other tends to turn the boat in a desired direction.

While I have described a preferred embodiment of my invention, many modifications may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention, and I do not wish to be limited to the precise details of construction set forth, but desire to avail myself of all changes within the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A boat comprising a body having a rigidly fixed inclined panel portion positioned to propel the boat forward by displacement action on the adjacent water when the boat is rocked on its longitudinal axis in one rotary direction, only one face of said panel portion being exposed to the water so that the panel portion has no displacement action when the boat is rocked in the opposite rotary direction, a rigidly fixed inclined panel portion to propel the boat forward in similar manner when the boat is rocked in the opposite rotary direction, only one face of the latter panel portion being exposed to the water so that the latter panel portion is ineffective for Water displacement when the boat is rocked in said one rotary direction, and fins extending rearwardly adjacent said panel portions to reduce sideward water displacement by the panel portions and to increase rearward displacement.

2. A boat having a fixed and rigidly associated rear end wall shaped to provide two similarly inclined propelling surfaces on opposite sides of the boat, one of said surfaces being inclined to displace the adjacent water rearwardly when the boat is rocked on its longitudinal axis in one rotary direction, the other surface being inclined to propel the boat forward in similar manner when the boat is rocked in the opposite rotary direction, and fins extending rearwardly from acceded the boat adjacent said inclined surfaces to confine the water against lateral displacement as distinguished from rearward displacement.

3. A boat comprising a body having a rigidly fixed inclined panel portion positioned to propel the boat forward by displacement action on the adjacent water when the boat is rocked on its longitudinal axis in one rotary direction, only one face of said panel portion being exposed to the water so that the panel portion has no displacement action when the boat is rocked in the opposite rotary direction, a rigidly fixed inclined panel portion to propel the boat forward in similar manner when the boat is rocked in the opposite rotary direction, only one face of the latter panel portion being exposed to the water so that the latter panel portion is ineffective for water displacement when the boat is rocked in said one rotary direction, a curved wall forming a central longitudinal water tunnel on the underside of the boat, the said panel portions being dimensioned to receive said curved wall wherebysaid channel passes through the panel portions, and fins continuous with the side walls of the boat extending rearward adjacent the outer side edges of said panel portions to confine the displaced water against lateral movement.

4. A boat comprising a body having a fixed and rigidly associated rear end wall shaped to provide two similarly inclined propelling surfaces on opposite sides of the boat, one of said surfaces being inclined to displace the adjacent water rearwardly and propel the boat forwardly when the boat is rocked on its longitudinal axis in one rotary direction, the other surface being inclined to propel the boat forwardly in similar manner when the boat is rocked in the opposite rotary direction, a fixed and rigidly associated wall disposed intermediate the front and rear ends of the boat and shaped to provide two similarly inclined propelling surfaces on opposite sides of the boat, said last named propelling surfaces being inclined ori the opposite side of the vertical from said first named propelling surfaces, one of said last named surfaces being inclined to displace the adjacent water rearwardly and propel the boat forwardly when the boat is rocked on its longitudinal axis in one rotary direction, the other last named surface being inclined to propel the boat forward in a similar manner when the boat is rocked in the opposite rotary direction.

5. The combination of claim 4 wherein the areas of said first named surfaces are different from the areas of said second named surfaces whereby steering of the boat is effected by rocking said boat predominantly in one or the other rotary direction.

6. A Water craft comprising a hull having a bottom and sides and a bow and stern, the bottom portion of said hull providing a tunnel open at each end and extending longitudinally of the hull, said tunnel projecting slightly rearwardly of the main hull body and being flanked with in clined panels, and fins carried by said hull and enclosing said panels.

JOHN GRUSZECKI.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 255,599 Coppin Mar. 28, 1882 650,333 Martens May 22, 1900 1,042,636 Apel Oct. 29, 1912 1,516,750 Muskat Nov. 25, 1924 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 4,528 Great Britain 1884 58,029 Germany Aug. 4, 1891 571,365 Great Britain Aug. 21, 1945 

